Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-04-16
BY WILLIAM t. HORNADAY.
Author OF ''Two Years in the Jungle
Copyright 1887. All rights reserved,

VII
On the 18th day OF November which was two
lays after our return from the MuSselsheIl jim
McSaney and Irwin Boyd rode over TO the buffalo
DutteS. fell in with four buffalo cows and, by a
brilliant exploit killed them all They also nearly
killed their horses in the chase. The cows were
strung out all the way from Dan to Beersheba.
and three miles beyond and the gathering of the
skins involved over sixty miles or hauling with
the wagon The day after the Kill we started over
20 the buffalo butteS, where the fartheSt COW Law
but the way Brown and drove TO one of the
others and took both her skin and skeleton.
While We were at this task, and was plotting the
wagon on over after its completion. Boyd AMI Jim
fell foul OF still another cow, and killed her Also
We camped at the Buffalo buttes that night nd
although we talked about remaining there for day
10 hunt for more buffalo. and heartily wished we
cOuid when il came To decision not one OF US was
really in favor OF II. There seemed TO be an in
stinctive feeling. shared by all, which warned us
Dot 20 do it, And it was blessed lucky thing for
that We did not remain a day longer. Had we
done 80 would have got into fearful scrape
with the weather. and Shudder TO think of what
might have been the result
I'd TO that time had by no means covered my
self with glory buffalo hunter. Eleven buffalo
had been Killed by the cowboys while was either
working on skins and skeletons, or plotting the
wagon and both Jim and BOYD were ahead OF me
or the score sheet Jim had killed so many that
could no: hope 10 come up with him, but GER
taint- did want to come I'm second So when
We broke camp that morning, and prepared for
Start. said:
ssNovy. boys I'm going 10 let some OF the rest of
You pilot the wagon to-day, while take little
hunt. for chang ! want to Kill another old
Boyd cheerfully took charge OF the wagon, leav-
ing the rest OF Us 10 hunt on the way back.
(which way VIII you go, Russell" asked, as We
got into our saddles.
.sWen" after a little thought, he said 81 think
III try my luck of east OF here"
Ny heart had been in my mouth until he declared
his choice, for ali the previous day and all the
morning had had a feeling that there must be
some buffalo in the bad lands to the west had
SPOKEN Of 10 Jim- and wanted 10 test the ground
80 when Russell chose the other direction we i'm
mediately headed for the country which so strongly
attracted me. As IL used 10 be said / felt Ii Tin
my bones that there were buffalo over there for
no one had been there lately.
The morning was simply glorious The sunshine
flooded the bare hills with warm light, the air was
still, the sky cOudleSS and 1t seemed like day In
september More than once we remarked upon
the loneliness OF the weather, but agreed that IL
could not last much longer. At that time there
was not fake of snow on the ground, and we
dreaded the coming OF any. But with nineteen
buffalo already in hand We had little cause TO be
anxious for the future, whatever the weather
might be.
While the wagon pulled OF northeast back
toward camp Jim and / rode of west into he rug
gtd country from which We first sighted buffalo on
that memorable 14th OF October. We met q big
herd OF antelope that came trOOpfng over a ridge
straight toward Us, and although we might easily
have shed some innocent blood there would have
been no excuse for doing so, and we did not fire
SHOT A smooth hillside of 10 our left was almost
CpEtrtQ Win range cattle. DaSkinG In the warm
sunshine Is they lerSurely cropped the snort
grass A little farther on a Jack-rabhit, almost
snow-white, jumped up out OF patch OF sage
DruSh- fslried MS huge ears back upon his neck,
ana snOt down the side OF a rayine like arrow.
hen far enough away that he felt certain we
could not hit him with Winchester he stopped
suddenly, SAT high up on his launches to look at
us and view the landscape Ger, then OF he went
again into cOulie and out of sight.
perfect nOrbh-pOle GOODNESS had deyeloped
some time previously between Boyd and Russell,
and as jim ana rode leiSurey along side by side,
mechanically looking for buffalo all the while we
discussed ii. We were riding I'D he bed of grassy
hollow which lay between two high ridges and
were talking about the virtues of patience and for
oearance, and how much man ought to endure
before starting fight, when. just as rode up
20 a rocky point that had hidden the upper end OF
Inc hollow from our view,
-Goodhedrens FiHs, yOndeT's1bf9blllIr'
lsaw him nrSt, owing 10 my position. We pulled
head in our direction, and he saw us as Quickly as
we Cuu nlm- Up went his head, he wheeled on his
hind Leg, and in two seconds had dashed out OF
Sght behind a point He was hundred and fifty
Yards away when we first saw him. We spurred
forward and gallOped after him hard as we could
go, snatcAng on our thick gloves and unslinging
our rfes as we dashed along. Was the old Fellow
Old all alone? We were both very badly mounted,
and DOEtd zoe oct hins
Two hundred yards from our point OF discovery
we came 70 the head OF the hollow, and saw the
buffalo Just galloping over the top OF the steep,
rocky MA which rose from our feet. For the FIRST
twenty feet the ascent was very steep rocky and
difncuit- had instinctively yielded the lead to
III as being the boss buffalo hunter but when
upward, the brute SHE'D az yellow stone which
lay at the bottom, and suddenly sheered OF ten feet
ID one side Jim ground his teeth, and spurred
and euSed. and seeing the path thus suddenly
cleared for me spurred forward instantly NV
horSe responded calamity, and we were on ground
NJ 10 gdllop over long before jim overlook US AT
Tie earliest possible moment gave INV horse the
spurs, and ne fiew forward at a tearing gallop.
lie was good on a short run, but he lacked stay
Ing power. and knew that If We did not overhaul
that buffalo Immediately and ito wunst," it would
Dc good-eveniDg" for me.
IS We reached the level Of the ridge the bull
WAS ljl>t dlstp pearlLty in The next hollow. A few
bounds farther and pulled up short spranQ 70
Inc ground lerked the reinS over my horses head
and prepared 10 IRE. ! knew / was sure OF one
SCOT AID feit that when the old bull came up out
% li.' hollow ne would pause an instant on the
opposite side 10 look back / determined to take
the chances OF hts doing so.
hda hardly reached the ground when the old
~. li.tith move u sight, serambi1ng quickly and
SFth easltS Up the SiOping bank IL was tempting
o., s.ld 20 lnysfl Don't be such fool as TO
mr. li.ie lhtt b'iiftiOS headquarters yet awhie,'
Ia =, eItJ yards lie stool upon the ron on the
littie MI .nd hope 10 die If didn't stop wheel
ar3,tEe- 1hu !JOA al me- had covered him with
FIN my ME 1nC before that. and when he turned
b:o1gat ins sight 20 bear on the shoulder that
vs. IeN: 70 DIc, well forward and pretty low
CO" -.Foreleg-li1gs-heart.
] would have bet a thousand dollars that had
N: eN3til y wher- held He was a hundred and
MY yards away. The bright sun shone fu!l upon
Lii He was Ia Ia. very prime Of lre and on man!
40" me ~ CID look. He was 4 king OF his Kind
shalt never forget II 10 my dying day.
heard my bail strike his thick bide, he gave a
i-tti- l. ttATil Ntltts4r ana started Ry
Iito movements was made that his fore ev
was brUAcn. -
"ChcxcJty-clash." went the lever and breech-
brtk .. my Winchester. and In an instant another
c4rITliSc was Ready b that time, however the
BUN io was fast going out OF sight on the opposite
si't OF Ills ndge, and nc was .IiCll down as the
sailors say, before was quite ready All 7 cou;d
% was 10 IRE for his backbone and in order 10
Stt low enough 10 hit IL / he'd so close 10 the
tiounh On The TOP OF the hill that held a little
700 cioae Ny bullet struck the ground kicked
Up Ilttie spray OF dust, and whiZzed OF over The
Id'LHt7 without touching hair OF the buffalo
No mater ddnt care, Tor knew the first shot
Aad gone where IL WAS sent
Just then jim ga!lOped past me rife I'm HAND
WIN . leoh Cl "rdtEy determination on his face
ne done Tor. JILai Hes done Iori" shouted
dpi"tnnSN after him i FELT that / could aluoSL
Gle Tor The privilege Of killing that bun without
any Aeip, ana Knew he was slS good as dead
jim gsiliopeG on and as quickly as / could 7
mounted ana chased after him. We dashed into
ana across The intervening hollow In "a wsy Una,
male ny polSS joints CTack. but by me time yy
EJt 70 The TOP or the next Hill jim WIS on lie
ground, and AneeliDS Ia IRE.
Hes done FOR, parJner," / cried out again and
In sheer desperation dashed past him and rode
hight on, squarely between hlIn and the buffalo
KNOW Jim mus have cnssed Ine then fer tie
Du-4 as within easy range, though still running
went FOR him Tor a.. my pony was worth anu In
TWO hundred yards more Caught I'D with him AS
he saw me Close behind him he stopped running
and fell into a despa1ring walk. Presently he
stopped and faced about, and then Jim cried out
Look out now, partner. Don't you 20 too close
u him or he'll make lunge and Kill your horse
But his leg n broken bfS